LISBON - The Columbiana County General Health District mailed out material promoting continuation of its cancer detection clinic levy over the past two weeks with one piece of information missing - a declaration to document who paid for the mailers.

After being asked about the money behind the brochures, which openly ask residents to vote yes for the levy, Health Commissioner Wesley Vins said Wednesday that donations for the benefit of the clinic covered the cost.

State law prohibits the governing body of a political subdivision from spending public funds to support or oppose a tax levy. Vins stressed that no tax dollars were used.

"Our goal with the clinic is to provide services, not run campaigns," he said, noting they received private contributions.

Election rules also call for a group spending money or accepting money for the promotion of a ballot issue to file paperwork with the Board of Elections as a political action committee. Political action committees are required to file spending reports to document contributions received and expenditures made on behalf of their issue.

In the case of the county health district, the form known as 30-D wasn't filed with the Columbiana County Board of Elections until 12:33 p.m. Thursday, the day after questions were raised about the mailings. Vins had been asked Wednesday whether a committee had been formed and said he thought one had, with health board vice chairman Shawn Apple as treasurer.

The 30-D document filed and signed by Vins on Thursday designated Vins as the treasurer, with the committee name designated as Citizens for CCHD Cancer Clinic.

Under the reasons listed for filing the form, two boxes were marked. One for the original designation of treasurer/acknowledgement of appointment and one for other. The reason listed under other said,"To allocate funds to produce and mail

informational packets."

Vins couldn't be reached for comment, with messages left for him at the county health department. In an E-mail, he said he worked to answer questions about the levy material and acknowledged the health department did have a PAC to benefit the clinic, again noting that donations will be used for the materials, not tax dollars.

Election board Director Kim Meek said a detailed post-election spending report will be due Dec. 11 to show money spent and contributions received after Oct. 14 through Dec. 4. A pre-election spending report was due Oct. 22, but the cutoff time for the expenses and contributions was Oct. 14. She said it could be they didn't have any until after the cut-off date.

"Clearly I don't know if they had any expenditures before then," she said.

Letters sent out were printed on health department stationery and in a department envelope. The letters, which went to cancer clinic patients, urged them to "vote yes for the cancer detection levy on Nov. 3, 2009. Without the levy, these services will not continue." The letter closed by advising the recipient to call Vins or the health department nursing director if they had any questions.

Vins said the total cost to educate the residents about the clinic was about $1,600 to $1,700, including postage. About 800 brochures were mailed out. He said the idea started with his visits to township trustee meetings and village council meetings to talk about the cancer clinic.

"A lot of people weren't aware of the services we provide," he said.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreiersalemnews.net and Tom Giambroni can be reached at tgiambronimojonews.com